A deep chill is setting over a large part of the U.S. a many of the nation's children head back to school after the Christmas break.

The National Weather Service says an Arctic high pressure system will keep temperatures 15 to 20 degrees below normal in much of the country.

South Burlington, Vermont received a record 33 inches of snow.

"We don't turn anybody away. If you show up at our door, we'll find you a spot. If it's just sitting down on a chair or warming up, well we'll at least offer that, just to get out of this cold," said Dominic Bouza of the Salvation Army shelter.

But that's just the beginning. Boston received nearly a foot of snow from a New England blizzard.

Meanwhile, heavy snow during the faceoff between the Indianapolis Colts and the Buffalo Bills created slippery conditions in the Washington, D.C. area. Chilly wind gusts of up to 45 miles per hour knocked down power lines leaving hundreds without power.

The high winds caused massive waves in New Hampshire prompting beach erosion and flooding.

Even Florida is under a freeze warning, with the state experiencing the longest stretch of cold weather in nine years.

The cold weather is threatening to take out the Sunshine State's citrus and berry crop. In preparation, farmers sprayed water on strawberries to create a protective layer of ice.

Florida farmer Matt Parke explained, "It locks in some heat. It leaves an area of air between the berry plant and the ice and just keeps it above freezing."

Meanwhile, much of the rest of the world is also experiencing a frigid cold snap.

China's Beijing is experiencing the coldest temperatures in 40 years. Heavy snowfall has blanketed most of the country.

Lorie Johnson

CBN News Medical Reporter

Lorie Johnson reports on the latest information about health and wellness. Since medicine is constantly changing, she makes sure CBN News viewers are up-to-date on what they need to know in order to live a healthy life. Follow Lorie on Twitter @LorieCBN and "like" her at Facebook.com/LorieJohnsonCBN.